Author Archives: The Editor

NASA Launches National UAV Safety Competition

The Safeguard with Autonomous Navigation Demonstration (SAND) is an opportunity for small businesses to compete in an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) competition to help NASA address safety-critical risks associated with flying UAVs in the national airspace such as: flight outside of approved airspace, unsafe proximity to people or property, and critical system failure. Continue reading →

Public Safety Drone Programs Growing Rapidly

As public safety agencies continue to adopt unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and related technology for life safety missions, new research from DRONERESPONDERS – a 501(c)3 non-profit program supporting public safety UAS — provides a better understanding about how these new programs are developing, as well as a glimpse at many of the challenges facing first responders who are increasingly operating drones.

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Why Do Backwards Wings Exist?

Two X-29A aircraft, featuring one of the most unusual designs in aviation history, were flown at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, as technology demonstrators to investigate a host of advanced concepts and technologies. The multi-phased program, conducted from 1984 to 1992, provided an engineering data base that is available in the design and development of future aircraft. Continue reading →